World Environment Day 2019 - 'Beat Air Pollution

The United Nations, aware that the protection and improvement of the human environment is a major issue, which affects the well-being of people and economic development throughout the world, designated 5^th June as World Environment Day. The celebration of this day provides us with an opportunity to broaden the basis for an enlightened opinion and responsible conduct by individuals, enterprises and communities in preserving and enhancing the environment. Since it began in 1974, it has grown to become a global platform for public outreach that is widely celebrated in more than 100 countries. The theme for this year is ‘Air Pollution’.

Approximately 7 million people worldwide die prematurely each year from air pollution, with about 4 million of these deaths occurring in the Asia-Pacific region. World Environment Day 2019 will urge governments, industry, communities, and individuals to come together to improve air quality in cities and regions across the world and also to explore renewable energy and green technologies that will avoid further air quality degradation and pollution. 92% of people worldwide do not breathe clean air. Air pollution costs the global economy $5 trillion every year in welfare costs. Ground-level ozone pollution is expected to reduce staple crop yields by 26% by 2030.

In order to highlight the seriousness of this issue and potential solutions offered by our environment and innovations in overcoming related challenges, Biodiversity Sri Lanka (BSL) is organizing a learning event in collaboration with its Patron Member – Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, and its Associate Member – the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).